An IRONMAN world champion's thoughts ahead of the IRONMAN African Championship.

by Michael Flanagan

The world's best female IRONMAN athlete is heading south for the European winter to the sunshine and golden beaches of South Africa. Two-time reigning women's IRONMAN world champion, Daniela Ryf, has confirmed that she will be on the start line of the Standard Bank IRONMAN African Championship in Nelson Mandela Bay, Port Elizabeth on April 2nd, 2017.

The Swiss maestro has had a remarkable rise in long distance triathlon and was able to reach the top early on in her long-course career. Today, Ryf is the dominant force in women's long-course triathlon; she has, arguably, become the most complete athlete in the sport since Chrissie Wellington. In April, she will become the third women's IRONMAN world champion to race in South Africa following Wellington and her compatriot, Natascha Badmann.

"I race for myself, that's why I enjoy it."

Swiss athletes have enjoyed success in South Africa over the years and none more so than Badmann, who won IRONMAN South Africa four times—with her final win coming at the age of 45 in 2012. Despite the past success of fellow Swiss triathletes, Ryf is looking to make her own mark.

"I am looking forward to competing in the race and having my own experiences on the course. I heard it is challenging, which I like. The bike will be hard, which is probably why most Swiss have liked it so far," said Ryf.

With a record that includes the 2015 and 2016 IRONMAN World Championship as well as the 2014 and 2015 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship titles, Ryf is the clear favorite whenever she races. Her performance in Kona last year was nothing short of incredible—leading from the front, holding off a Mirinda Carfrae charge, and breaking the course record in the process. Being used to this level of performance, Ryf does not allow the "favorite" tag weigh her down—instead, she uses it to push her forward. "I don't care about the outside pressure anymore. I race for myself, that's why I enjoy it," she adds.

In 2011, Chrissie Wellington treated South African triathlon fans to a rare display of power and dominance when she broke the then IRONMAN women's world record in Port Elizabeth. She still has fond memories of her time in the country and so too does Ryf, who raced her first World Cup in South Africa in 2006.

Eleven years later she returns a world champion and after seeing her dominate Kona in 2016, South African triathlon fans can look forward to seeing her take command of the course in a few short weeks.